Shirt protection device

ABSTRACT

A shirt protection device may include a strip of material cut to be placed around a portion of a shirt. The strip of material may be flexible and substantially transparent. The strip of material may be permanently attached by ironing the strip of material into the shirt. An adhesive may removably attach the strip of material to a portion of a shirt. The adhesive may have a cover for when the shirt protection device may not be in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/834,282, filed Jun. 12, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protecting collars and cuffs and, more particularly, to a shirt protection device.

Shirt collars and sleeves are difficult to clean and to stay clean. Dirt and sweat create stains that ruin the collars and sleeves of shirts. Currently, the only products on the market include items that are meant to try to clean shirts that are already dirty. Manual cleaning of shirts can be labor intensive and inefficient. Fabrics can be delicate, and abrasive cleaning solvents used for cleaning shirts will likely shorten the life cycle of the shirt or damage the color or appearance of the shirt.

As can be seen, there is a need for a shirt protection device that may allow a user to keep a shirt clean and keep sweat and oils away from areas of the shirt that normally are in contact with the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a shirt protection device comprises: a strip of material cut to be placed around a portion of a shirt, wherein the strip of material is flexible.

In another aspect of the present invention, a shirt protection device comprises: a strip of material cut to be placed around a portion of a shirt, wherein the strip of material has a first side; and an adhesive attached to the first side of the strip of material.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting a portion of a shirt from soil and oils comprises: placing a portion of a shirt flat; placing a strip of material on the portion of the shirt so that the strip of material folds over the end of the portion of the shirt, so that the strip of material covers an inside part and an outside part of the shirt; and attaching the strip of material to the portion of the shirt.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a back view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a shirt protection device that may include a strip of material cut to be placed around a portion of a shirt. The strip of material may be flexible and substantially transparent. The strip of material may be permanently attached by ironing the strip of material into the shirt. An adhesive may removably attach the strip of material to a portion of a shirt. The adhesive may have a cover for when the shirt protection device may not be in use.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, a shirt protection device 10 may be made from silicone, durable plastic or the like. The shirt protection device 10 may be substantially transparent. The shirt protection device 10 may be flexible. The shirt protection device 10 may be a strip of material cut to be placed around a collar 12, a cuff 24 or the like of a shirt 14. In certain embodiments, the shirt protection device 10 may be placed around the collar 12, the cuff 24 of the shirt 14. Since the shirt protection device 10 may be substantially transparent, the device 10 may be placed on an inside part 28 and an outside part 30 of the collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like, and not be noticeable to others.

In certain embodiments such as shown in FIG. 10, the strip of material may be cut to a length to fit the collar 12, cuff 24 or the like. The collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like, may be placed flat. The strip of material may then be placed on the desired area of the collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like. The shirt protection device 10 may then be ironed into the collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like, so that the device 10 may permanently stay on the collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like. Once ironed, the shirt protection device 10 may be allowed to cool for a time period. In certain embodiments, the length of time may be approximately thirty minutes. In certain embodiments, the shirt protection device 10 may be steamed onto the shirt 14. The shirt 14 with the shirt protection device 10 may be worn and laundered at this point. The shirt protection device 10 may be placed on the inside part 28 of the collar 12, the cuff 24, or the like, and secured. The process may then be repeated on the outside part 30 of the collar 12, the cuff 24, or the like. The outside part 30 of the collar 12, the cuff 24, or the like may be secured first, and then the inside part 28 of the collar 12, the cuff 24, or the like.

In an alternate embodiment 16, such as shown in FIG. 11, the strip of material may be cut to a length to fit the collar 12, cuff 24 or the like. The collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like, may be placed flat. The alternate embodiment 16 may include an adhesive 18 attached to a first side of the alternate embodiment 16. An adhesive cover 20 may cover the adhesive 18 when not in use. At least one tab 22 may be attached to at least one end of the adhesive cover 20 for ease of removal. The alternate embodiment 16 may also be substantially transparent and may be made from silicone, durable plastic or the like.

A method of using the alternate embodiment 16 may include the following. The adhesive cover 20 may be removed from the adhesive 18. In certain embodiments, the adhesive cover 20 may be removed by pulling on the at least one tab 22. The strip of material may then be placed on the desired area of the collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like. The adhesive 18 on the alternate embodiment 16 may then be pressed into the collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like, so that the alternate embodiment 16 may be attached to and worn on the shirt 14. A portion of the strip of material may be placed on one side of the collar 12, the cuff 24, or the like, and then once pressed, the collar 12, the cuff 24, or the like, may be turned over to repeat the process on the other side of the collar 12, the cuff 24, or the like. This repeating of the process may allow for the alternate embodiment 16 to be placed over the inside part 28 and the outside part 30 of the portion of the shirt 14. Once the shirt 14 may be worn, the alternate embodiment 16 may be removed from the collar 12, the cuff 24 or the like, before the shirt 14 may be washed. The method may be repeated once the shirt 14 may be ready to be worn again.

The cuff 24 of the shirt 14 as shown in FIGS. 4 through 6 may extend from an arm of the shirt 14. The cuff 24 of the shirt 14 may be substantially covered by the shirt protection device 10.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shirt protection device comprising: a strip of material cut to be placed around a portion of a shirt, wherein the strip of material is flexible.
 2. The shirt protection device of claim 1, wherein the strip of material is made from silicone.
 3. The shirt protection device of claim 1, wherein the strip of material is substantially transparent.
 4. A shirt protection device comprising: a strip of material cut to be placed around a portion of a shirt, wherein the strip of material has a first side; and an adhesive attached to the first side of the strip of material.
 5. The shirt protection device of claim 4, further comprising an adhesive cover removably attached to the adhesive.
 6. The shirt protection device of claim 5, further comprising at least one tab attached to at least one end of the adhesive cover.
 7. A method for protecting a portion of a shirt from soil and oils comprising: placing a portion of a shirt flat; placing a strip of material on the portion of the shirt so that the strip of material folds over the end of the portion of the shirt, so that the strip of material covers an inside part and an outside part of the shirt; and attaching the strip of material to the portion of the shirt.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the strip of material attaches by ironing the strip of material into the portion of the shirt.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising placing an adhesive attached to the strip of material on the portion of the shirt.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of removing an adhesive cover from the adhesive before placing the adhesive on the portion of the shirt. 